Korean kabuto

Korean - Namban - Kabuto

A superb Kabuto, that's origins date to either the second Mongolian invasion of Japan, or perhaps 1st or 2nd invasion of Korea by Japan.

The kabuto has been taken from the battlefield and adapted to the Japanese style with three lame shikoro (helmet neck guard) of brown lacquered leather with printed deerskin leather bindings, with silk trim lacing on lower lame and fukigaeshi (turn backs of the kabuto).

The top lame of the shikoro has four finely engraved hasso byo (soft metal rivet with ornamental head) fastening the lame to the iron kabuto .

White horsehair from the kabuto crest very much resembles the samurai style chonmagi. Samurai hair was pulled through the tehenkanemono during Kamakura period to Muromachi period.
Exterior of the visor has black lacquer, interior headliner and chin strap are intact.
A very old & desirable rare style of kabuto.
Overall condition is original and very good .
Its provenance is of particular interest as very few antique korean armor's exist today & its likely this kabuto was brought back from korea by one of the samurai sent by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late 1500's .